Russia begins preparatory work for four new reactors

Rosenergoatom, the operator subsidiary of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, announced today that preparatory work for the construction of four new reactors has commenced. Two VVER-TOI units are to be built at a new plant near the existing Smolensk site, while two VVER-1200 units will be built as units 3 and 4 of the Leningrad II plant.

New Nuclear 26 June 2020

Leningrad II-2 gets regulatory approval for physical start-up

Russia's regulator Rostechnadzor has issued a permit for the physical start-up of Leningrad II unit 2, which completed hot tests last week. The regulator's inspection of the unit "confirmed its high degree of readiness for the start of physical launch, during which nuclear fuel will be loaded into the reactor core for the first time", state nuclear corporation Rosatom said today.

New Nuclear 17 June 2020

Russia starts installation work at fuel fabrication facility

Work has started on installation of the main equipment for the nuclear fuel fabrication facility at the pilot energy complex in Seversk (Tomsk). Under construction at the Siberian Chemical Combine, ODEK is part of Russia’s Proryv (Breakthrough) project, which is designed to demonstrate a closed fuel cycle. SCC is part of fuel company TVEL, which is a subsidiary of state nuclear corporation Rosatom.

New Nuclear 15 June 2020

Leningrad II-2 completes hot testing

Russia's Rosatom has completed hot tests at Leningrad II unit 2. Hot testing started in February and included 150 tests on major systems to check their performance under normal operational conditions, without any nuclear fuel assemblies in the reactor. The equipment was also tested under emergency conditions.

New Nuclear 12 June 2020

Rosatom to convert fast reactor to MOX fuel in 2022

Unit 4 of the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant in Russia will be completely switched to uranium-plutonium MOX fuel in 2022, marking an important step towards closing the nuclear fuel cycle, Russia’s Rosatom has announced.

Uranium & Fuel 10 June 2020

Viewpoint: Pandemic underscores nuclear’s role in sustainable development

A sustainable energy supply is crucial for ensuring stable economic growth and improving social welfare while at the same time preserving the ecosystems we live in, writes Evgeny Pakermanov, president of Rusatom Overseas, a subsidiary of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom.

In 2020, the world has encountered a new global challenge that has affected a record number of people - the coronavirus pandemic. In a matter of weeks, it caused the biggest social and economic upheaval in decades. From the very start, a joint effort was required to combat both this life-changing infection and its consequences.

Perspectives 02 June 2020

Russia commissions floating NPP

The floating nuclear power plant Akademik Lomonosov has been fully commissioned in Pevek, which is in the Chukotka region of Russia's Far East. The milestone was made official following the approval of Rosenergoatom General Director Andrey Petrov. Rosenergoatom is the operator subsidiary of the state nuclear corporation Rosatom.

New Nuclear 22 May 2020

Atommash completes core barrel for Rooppur-1 RPV

Atommash, part of the Atomenergomash engineering division of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, has completed the core barrel, or shroud, of the reactor vessel for unit 1 of the Rooppur nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.

New Nuclear 22 May 2020

US senators urge extension to uranium import quota

A bipartisan group of US Senators has called for the Department of Commerce to extend the Russian Suspension Agreement, as recommended by the Nuclear Fuel Working Group.

Uranium & Fuel 21 May 2020

Leningrad II-2 start-up postponed to April 2021

Rosatom has applied to delay by two months the commissioning of unit 2 of the Leningrad II nuclear power plant in western Russian owing to the departure from the country of foreign workers installing diesel generators at the site. According to a report by Russian newspaper Kommersant yesterday, Rosatom considers their exit - owing to safety considerations amid the coronavirus pandemic - to be force majeure and has requested to be released from any fine for not being able to meet its obligations to add the unit's generating capacity to the wholesale market.

Covid-19 19 May 2020